NHTSA lists 5 safety recalls and 875 owner complaints for the 2010 Volkswagen Jetta. It has 1 open investigation that names this model year.
Recalled components: brakes, air bags, diesel fuel system, fuel system, and 1 more. Most-described problem: stalling or shutting off (238 complaints, 27%). Most-reported area: electrical system (236 complaints, 27%; median mileage when it happened: 67,000).
One of the Jetta years to avoid
The 2010 drew 299 owner complaints in its first three years, against about 54 for a typical Jetta year: 5.5 times as many.
Years to avoid: 2010 to 2013 and 2019. Based on owner complaints, not adjusted for sales.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2009-2010 Volkswagen Jetta A5 Sedan, 2009 Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen, Eos, GTI, Rabbit and Audi A3 vehicles, and 2010 Volkswagen Golf A6 vehicles. The Antilock Brake System (ABS) control unit may fail during ABS or Electronic Stability Control (ESC) activation, possibly causing a loss of vehicle control.
Risk: A loss of vehicle control can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix and full notice
Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will update the ABS control module software to improve the module's self-testing abilities. Any module that fails the new diagnostic test will be replaced. These repairs will be made free of charge. The recall began February 2017. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Golf, 2007-2010 Passat sedans and wagon, 2012-2014 Passat sedan and Eos, 2009-2014 CC, 2009-2012 Audi Q5, 2010-2012 S5 Cabriolet and 2010-2012 Audi A5 Cabriolet vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix and full notice
Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflators, free of charge. Volkswagen issued an interim notification to owners on April 12, 2016, and will send a second notification when parts are available. Volkswagen will notify owners again once parts are available. Volkswagen owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Audi owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834.
The fuel injection pulses could coincide with the natural frequency of the injector line #2, in specific load and rpm conditions. This resonance creates additional stress in the fuel line.
Risk: Due to the resonance condition, injector line number 2 could develop small cracks which could lead to fuel leakage. Leaking fuel in the presence of an ignition source, may lead to a fire.
The fix and full notice
Fix: Volkswagen will install an improved fuel injector line for the number 2 cylinder on certain vehicles and will install vibration dampers on all of the injector lines. Volkswagen and audi will notify owners to have the vehicles repaired free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin during november 2011. Owners may contact volkswagen at 1-800-822-8987.
Volkswagen recall campaign number is 23j9/v5 & 23j8/k5. or go to <a href=http://www.safercar.gov>http://www.safercar.gov</a> .
Volkswagen is recalling certain model 2009-2012 jetta and jetta sportwagen vehicles, manufactured from may 2008 through september 2011, model year 2010-2012 volkswagen golf vehicles, manufactured from may 2009 through september 2011, and model year 2010-2012 audi a3 vehicles, manufactured from september 2009 through september 2011, that are equipped with a 2.0l tdi common rail diesel engine/clean diesel engine.
The jetta, jetta sportwagen, and rabbit vehicles may have a small plastic tab located on the windshield washer fluid reservoir that may chafe against an underhood fuel supply line. The new beetle and the new beetle convertible vehicles may have a fastening clamp on a hydraulic hose of the power steering system that may be located in an improper position which could cause chafing against an underhood fuel supply line.
Risk: If chafing occurs, there is the potential for a fuel leak to develop. Fuel leakage, in the presence of an ignition source, could result in a fire.
The fix and full notice
Fix: Dealers will inspect and if necessary replace the underhood fuel line. Additionally, depending on the vehicle model, dealers will either remove the plastic tab from the windshield washer fluid reservoir, or inspect the position of the fastening clamp and adjust the related fastening clamp into the correct position. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin on or before january 31, 2011. Owners may contact volkswagen at 1-800-822-8987.
Volkswagen safety recall no. 20i4/u1. or go to <a href=http://www.safercar.gov>http://www.safercar.gov</a> .
Volkswagen is recalling certain model year 2006-2010 jetta, new beetle, new beetle convertible, model year 2009 jetta sportwagen and model year 2007-2009 rabbit vehicles equipped with 2.5l engines.
Volkswagen is recalling certain model year 2009 and 2010 passenger cars manufactured between september 2008 and august 2009. The wiring harness of a temperature sensor in the direct shift gearbox (dsg) may have connector wires that were insufficiently crimped. With insufficiently crimped connector wires, a temperature sensor has the potential to falsely detect a high gearbox oil temperature, causing the transmission to abruptly shift to neutral. If this happens, the selector lever position indicator within the instrument panel will flash. In addition, the "depress brake pedal" indicator light will be illuminated, alerting the driver to apply the brakes.
Risk: The abrupt shift to neutral could lead to a crash without warning.
The fix and full notice
Fix: Volkswagen will reprogram the transmission control module with updated software free of charge. The recall began on october 20, 2009. Owners may contact volkswagen at 1-800-822-8987.
Vw recall no.37e3/s7 & audi recall no. 37e5/j7. or go to <a href=http://www.safercar.gov>http://www.safercar.gov</a> .
Questions about any of these recalls: call NHTSA's Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236 (TTY 888-275-9171) or check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA also lists 1 equipment recall for parts sold for this vehicle, not the vehicle itself: Brakes: foundation components, master cylinder (Tenneco Automotive, 20E-064).
NHTSA investigations
NHTSA has opened 4 investigations that name the 2010 Volkswagen Jetta; 1 is still open. An investigation means NHTSA is reviewing reports of a problem. It is not a finding that the vehicle has a defect.
Air bag clockspring failure
Engineering analysis EA18003Open since Apr 18, 2018
In August 2015, Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) launched Safety Recall 15V-483 to address the loss of the protection provided by the front driver air bag in several models due to the failure… NHTSA's full summary
Engineering analysis EA11003Closed Mar 27, 2015 (opened Feb 7, 2011)
The Office of Defects Investgation (ODI) opened EA11-003 on February 7, 2011, based on 160 complaints to ODI and Volkswagen involving high pressure fuel pump (HPFP) failures in model year (MY) 2009 through 2010… NHTSA's full summary
Preliminary evaluation PE11023Closed Dec 2, 2011 (opened Aug 2, 2011)
By letter dated October 3, 2011, Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (VW) notified the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that it will conduct a safety recall to address a defect in approximately… NHTSA's full summary
NHTSA ties this investigation to recall 11V-490, listed above.
Preliminary evaluation PE10034Closed Feb 8, 2011 (opened Aug 26, 2010)
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) and Volkswagen (VW) have received a total of 160 complaints and field reports alleging incidents of engine stall and/or loss of power that appear to be related to high pressure… NHTSA's full summary
A preliminary evaluation is NHTSA's first step, to gather information and decide whether to look further. An engineering analysis is a deeper review, usually opened after a preliminary evaluation. NHTSA lists investigations by make, model and model year only, so one can apply to only some versions of a model, such as one engine; its summary says which.
What owners report
Owners have filed 875 complaints with NHTSA about the 2010 Jetta. Below, they are sorted by the problems owners describe and by the areas NHTSA files them under. NHTSA does not verify complaints.
Problems owners describe
Stalling or shutting off238 · 27%
Median 35,000 miles at failure, from 230 reports with mileage
Loss of power or limp mode124 · 14%
Median 50,500 miles at failure, from 119 reports with mileage
Fuel pump failures98 · 11%
Median 50,300 miles at failure, from 96 reports with mileage
Check engine light86 · 10%
Median 50,200 miles at failure, from 82 reports with mileage
Infotainment or touchscreen failures83 · 9%
Median 65,200 miles at failure, from 78 reports with mileage
Won't start61 · 7%
Median 57,000 miles at failure, from 61 reports with mileage
Hesitation or slow acceleration41 · 5%
Median 19,600 miles at failure, from 39 reports with mileage
Jerking, lurching or harsh shifting29 · 3%
Median 7,500 miles at failure, from 28 reports with mileage
Most named: horn (4) · Median 67,000 miles at failure, from 205 reports with mileage
Diesel fuel system166 · 19%
Median 31,200 miles at failure, from 164 reports with mileage
Fuel and propulsion system127 · 15%
Median 74,000 miles at failure, from 120 reports with mileage
Engine119 · 14%
Median 67,300 miles at failure, from 116 reports with mileage
Powertrain111 · 13%
Most named: automatic transmission (24); manual transmission (4) · Median 43,000 miles at failure, from 103 reports with mileage
Engine and cooling71 · 8%
Most named: engine (14); engine, diesel (9) · Median 13,300 miles at failure, from 67 reports with mileage
Brakes60 · 7%
Median 75,500 miles at failure, from 46 reports with mileage
Unknown or other48 · 5%
Median 88,000 miles at failure, from 41 reports with mileage
A complaint can name more than one area, so shares add up to more than 100%. Mileage is shown where at least 15 owners reported it.
Volkswagen Jetta recalls and complaints by model year
The highlighted bars are the 2010 model year. Newer model years have had less time on the road, so their counts are lower. Counting complaints filed in each model year's first three years, the 2010 Jetta drew the most (299).
Owner complaints
2010: 875 complaintsTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
Owner complaints by model year, Volkswagen Jetta
Model year
Complaints
2010
875
2011
640
2012
526
2013
631
2014
440
2015
197
2016
164
2017
159
2018
31
2019
549
2020
53
2021
69
2022
43
2023
43
2024
44
2025
29
2026
6
Safety recalls
2010: 5 recallsTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
Safety recalls by model year, Volkswagen Jetta
Model year
Recalls
2010
5
2011
8
2012
6
2013
7
2014
7
2015
8
2016
4
2017
6
2018
2
2019
11
2020
6
2021
4
2022
1
2023
0
2024
0
2025
2
2026
1
Crash test ratings
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for each version it tested. Rollover risk is NHTSA's estimate of the chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
In the 875 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2010 Volkswagen Jetta, the problems described most are stalling or shutting off (238), loss of power or limp mode (124), and fuel pump failures (98). NHTSA does not verify complaints, and one complaint can describe several problems.
Is NHTSA investigating the 2010 Volkswagen Jetta?
Yes. NHTSA has 1 open investigation that names the 2010 Volkswagen Jetta: air bag clockspring failure (EA18003, opened Apr 18, 2018). It has closed 3 others. An investigation is not a finding that the vehicle has a defect.
How do I check if my Jetta has an open recall?
Enter the 17-character VIN from your dashboard, door jamb or registration at nhtsa.gov/recalls. The lookup lists unrepaired recalls for that exact vehicle. Safety recall repairs are free at Volkswagen dealers for vehicles up to 15 years old from first sale.
Sources and method
NHTSA recalls file (NHTSA datasets), dated Oct 2, 2026; every campaign checked against NHTSA's recalls API.
NHTSA owner complaints file, dated Oct 2, 2026. Counted by complaint number, so a complaint naming three components counts once in the total.
NHTSA investigations file, dated Oct 2, 2026. Defect petitions, which ask NHTSA to open an investigation, are listed apart and only while open. Audit queries, which check whether a company met its recall and reporting duties rather than whether a vehicle has a problem, are not listed.
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP).
NHTSA model names covered: JETTA, JETTA SPORTWAGEN.
Complaint counts are unverified owner reports. They rise with sales volume and time on the road, so compare model years with care. How we build these pages. Spotted an error? Tell us.